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Can post-stroke leg pain be treated?

My mother just had a stroke two weeks ago. My question is she had a tightness in her right leg. Therapy and muscle relaxers aren't helping. She says it hurts a lot. She can't sleep or eat very much. Because of the pain in her right leg, she shakes her left one uncontrollably. Is there something her doctor is missing? She has Kaiser Permanente for her medical provider. We would like a second opinion, but we were told we can't go outside Kaiser. Is there something we can do about that? Can we make them pay for an outside doctor?

If standard muscle relaxants and pain killers are not working, I often request a Botox shot be placed into the tight muscles. This loosens them up considerably, and is often extremely helpful. I would ask my internist for a referral to either a Physical Therapy Physician or a Neurologist - whichever one does Botox shots in the Kaiser system. Going out of system may result in paying out of pocket, which could cost thousands. If you insist on going outside of their system, and don't have the money, you could also inquire with a Kaiser Social Worker who could help you through the process of getting an outside-of-network consultation, or at least point you in the direction of someone who can help.

For the pain associated with the tightness, I would consider such medications as amitriptyline, nortriptyline, gabapentin, Lyrica, or Cymbalta. Occasionally, topiramate will also be helpful. Please mention that list to your physician and see if any would be safe in your mother's case.

24/7 Sensations can affect us all differently, in different places on our
bodies, and at different levels of pain and suffering.

Extremely difficult to diagnose.
Often sending the patient to many doctors to find one that believes in
their suffering.
Finding a doctor who is willing to treat and work to find relief for the
person that suffers with this savage pain becomes a miracle in the mind of
those that suffer.

Causes:
Central pain syndrome occurs because of injury to central nervous system...
CPS can be caused by stroke, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Parkinson´s
disease, toxins, tumors and trauma to brain or spinal cord, any diseases that
eventually reach the central nervous system.

Sensations:
It can be a steady, sometimes deep burning, aching, cutting, tearing,
pressing, lacerating mixture of pain sensation.
Pain may be moderate to severe in intensity.

CPS may be described
as weird sensations like Burning: "A chemical, not a purely physical burn"
, "bone cold", "wet" sensations, tingling, a "pins and needles", a "
ballooning" sensation, throbbing, the feeling of a dental probe on a raw nerve,
even metallic.

Intense skin reactions
can accompany these symptoms, such as burning, stretching, tightness,
itching, or a crawling feeling.
CPS can be aggravated by any light touch such as the feel of cloth on skin
making dressing an ordeal, as can the touch of a sheet or blanket.
The touch of a loved one, may overwhelm the brain with the pain from CPS.

Intestinal reactions
Gut pain, stomach nausea and vomiting can be a part of CPS.

Numbness
The hands, feet, head, and trunk can be affected with a numbness that is
painful, and does not offer any relief, only adding to the pain.

Onset
CPS can begin from day one of the stroke/injury or can take months, even
years to make it's appearance. Central Pain Syndrome can be a life
threatening condition:
It can often cause depression, anxiety, anger, frustration and
hopelessness..
When a person rates the pain as a 9 or 10 on a pain scale, and there seems
to be no relief in sight, with no hope or understanding or support from
family and professionals, they may even come to feel that suicide is the only
way out.

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